I have been a herder in Mongolia for 30 years and my life, like all other herders, depends on good pasture. But our lands are facing a growing problem of pastureland degradation. This is due to mining, but also the increasing numbers of livestock that we have been putting on the land. More animals might make more money in the short term but contribute significantly to pastureland degradation. If we don’t change our ways, we know that in the near future there will be not enough grass for our animals to eat.

While we all know that we need to change the way we use the land, I have been trying to work out how to achieve it. My wife and I started with our own herd, by selecting animals with higher productivity. We decided to keep 10 good milking cows rather than 20 cows with lower productivity. This not only eases my wife’s work as she has fewer cows to take care of and to milk, but also brings more income to our family. Most importantly, it will reduce the pressure on the pastureland that we depend on. As well as decreasing the number of livestock we keep, I am planning to grow fodder for my cows to save some parts of the pastureland of our area. I guess that means I am becoming a farmer as well as a herder!

The next challenge for me is to persuade other herders to also reduce their livestock numbers. Together we can show other community members that we all need to act responsibly to save our pasture. This is where my role as a gender and land champion is so helpful. I am proud to have been selected as a champion through working with WOLTS and PCC. I have learned a lot and feel much more confident in talking to other community members, local leaders, and also to mining companies, so we can all work collaboratively to develop responsible land governance.

It will not be a fast process, and I hope we can act quickly enough to protect our pastureland from further degradation, but I feel I have the skills and knowledge now to start making those changes, so we can protect the land and our herding lifestyle for future generations.

Odgerel is a herder from Dalanjargalan Soum in Dornogovi Province in south-eastern Mongolia. He has been a gender and land champion since 2020, having participated in the local champions training programme led by Mokoro’s WOLTS project with our Mongolian NGO partners, PCC.

WOLTS Champions’ Perspectives is a blog series in which community members share how they are supporting more inclusive, participatory and gender-equitable land governance in their local communities after taking part in the WOLTS champions training programme.

Prime Minister of Mongolia L. Oyun-Erdene received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to Mongolia Richard Buangan today.

While underscoring that the government of Mongolia attaches great importance to the development of mutually beneficial cooperation with the U.S., the Prime Minister congratulated the Ambassador on starting his diplomatic mission to Mongolia, which coincided with the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The head of the government expressed willingness to consolidate bilateral relations and cooperation within the Strategic Partnership and to boost trade and investment cooperation with the U.S.

While emphasizing that the U.S. is proud to be Mongolia’s important third neighbor, the Ambassador voiced his commitment to further deepening the Mongolia-U.S. Strategic Partnership and enriching economic cooperation with new content.

Tokyo /MONTSAME/. Within the framework of his state visit to Japan, President of Mongolia U. Khurelsukh today held official talks with Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida.

At the official talks, the two sides reviewed the 50 years of cooperation between Mongolia and Japan since the establishment of diplomatic relations and exchanged views on future goals and prospects, as well as on cooperation in international and regional arenas.

Expressing gratitude to the Government of Japan for its consistent support for Mongolia’s democracy, reforms, and sustainable development, the President of Mongolia reaffirmed his commitment to further consolidating relations and cooperation with Japan, which shares common values of democracy, human rights, and market economy with Mongolia.

The Japanese Prime Minister expressed pleasure for the state visit by the Mongolian President which is taking place on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. He then expressed satisfaction with the close cooperation by the sides in the regional and international arenas while reiterating that Japan stands committed to supporting Mongolia’s sustainable development.

The two sides concurred to further develop Mongolia-Japan relations based on the principles of “Special Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity”. Moreover, the sides agreed to foster human-centered relations and cooperation based on the common values of democracy, freedom, human rights, and a market economy while stepping up collaborative efforts to address the challenges facing the international community.

The two sides renewed the Medium-term Program of the Mongolia-Japan Strategic Partnership, which has been a roadmap for the relations and cooperation between the two countries, and established the 10-year Action Program of the "Special Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity" between Mongolia and Japan with aims to deepen cooperation in politics, trade, investment, human-centered development, and mutual exchange of citizens.

Emphasizing that Japan is one of the largest donor countries that has consistently supported activities in the economic and investment sectors since Mongolia made the transition to democracy and market economy, the sides welcomed the signing of the exchange note between the governments of Mongolia and Japan for the project to install a low-power battery charger at Darkhan substation and the project to improve Mongolia’s energy supply.

The two sides agreed to work closely together with a view to diversifying Mongolia's economy, increasing domestic production, ensuring food security, and improving the legal and business environment.

The two sides applauded the organization of the 10th consultation between the public and private sectors of the two countries which is being held as part of the Mongolian President’s visit and reaffirmed that they will take cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, and investment to a new level, intensify cooperation between the public and private sectors, and improve the benefits of the Economic Partnership Agreement.

Recognizing that mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries is the foundation of closer bilateral relations, the sides agreed to continue the cooperation to empower human resources and encourage youth exchanges.

The two sides reiterated to continue to work together in coordination within the framework of the United Nations and other international organizations. It was also reiterated that the Japanese side will consistently support the “Ulaanbaatar Dialogue on Northeast Asian Security” which has a significant impact on ensuring peace and stability in the region.

While highlighting the importance of intensifying cooperation in environmental protection and climate change mitigation, the Japanese side pledged to plant 50,000 trees in Mongolia and organize training for 20,000 Mongolian children and youth in the field of environment, desertification, and prevention of natural disasters in support for the “One Billion Trees” national movement, spearheaded by the Mongolian President.

The state visit of Mongolian President U. Khurelsukh to Japan will be wrapped up on December 2.

FORMER Keighley and Ilkley Labour MP John Grogan has been chosen by the party to contest the seat again at the next general election.

He was selected during a meeting at Keighley's Central Hall yesterday (November 27), which saw more than 300 party members take part in a vote.

Mr Grogan served as Keighley and Ilkley MP for two years, until 2019, and had previously represented Selby between 1997 and 2010.

He says: "Keighley and Ilkley is a classic marginal seat. It is 23rd on the target list of seats for Labour at the next general election in terms of the swing required. I feel a big responsibility to win this seat for Labour again and help put Keir Starmer into Number 10 Downing Street.

"We need a competent Labour Government with a plan for a fairer and greener Britain.

"Since 1983, when it was first contested, Keighley and Ilkley has been a two-horse race between Labour and the Conservatives. I look forward to robust, but always civil, debates with the current Member of Parliament. On some issues – such as the need to rebuild Airedale Hospital, which I first raised during the last Parliament – I hope we will be able to work together."

Tokyo, Nov. 29 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and visiting Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh affirmed on Tuesday that their countries will never tolerate the use of force to change the status quo, with China and Russia, which border Mongolia, in mind.

This was included in a joint statement issued after the two leaders held talks at the prime minister's office in Tokyo.

At a joint press conference following the meeting, Kishida said Japan will work to strengthen its cooperation with Mongolia to resolve global challenges.

The president voiced hope to expand and deepen bilateral cooperation to contribute to regional peace and prosperity.

In the statement, the two leaders vowed to strengthen cooperation between Japan and Mongolia in the security field, while promoting Japanese investments in Mongolia and working on exploring rare earths in Mongolia.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]

Zavkhan — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Mongolia inaugurated a grid-connected renewable hybrid energy system in Zavkhan province. The system includes a 5 megawatt solar photovoltaic and 3.6 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system (BESS), along with an advanced energy management system in Uliastai, servicing mostly rural areas in the western region.

“Thanks to this project, more than 48,000 consumers of more than 8,000 households in Altai-Uliastai region will receive clean and reliable energy,” said the Head of Renewable Energy Division of the Ministry of Energy Byekbolat Khalik. “In addition to reduced electricity loss and improved quality of and access to electricity, the system is estimated to cut 223,813 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the next 25 years.”

The hybrid system will provide about 8.8 million kilowatt-hour (kWh) solar-generated and 1.3 million kWh charged and discharged energy in the Altai-Uliastai energy system, under the ADB’s Upscaling Renewable Energy Sector Project. The project was approved in September 2018 with loan financing from ADB and grant cofinancing from the Strategic Climate Fund and the Japan Fund for the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JFJCM). The project supports 41 MW of distributed renewable energy systems through subprojects that will use a range of renewable energy technologies to supply clean electricity and heat in the less-developed region of western Mongolia. The Uliastai grid-connected solar photovoltaic and BESS hybrid system subproject is cofinanced with a $6 million grant from the JFJCM.

“The Uliastai subproject builds the very first utility and mega-scale battery system in the country combined with grid-connected renewable energy,” said ADB Principal Energy Specialist for East Asia Shannon Cowlin. “The system will provide secure power supply to the residents and reduce localized air pollution, which affects even isolated regions of Mongolia during winter months.”

Among the Uliastai subproject’s innovations is the adoption of a sodium–sulfur battery, also known as a NAS battery, which can operate for longer period than other types of BESS technologies (up to 15 years), has better fire safety, and is more robust against Mongolia’s harsh winters. The BESS is designed to supply the Altai-Uliastai energy system during its peak hours in the evening by time-shifting excess solar energy generated during the daytime, increasing the share of renewable energy in the system.

The JFJCM is an ADB trust fund that aims to provide financial incentives for the adoption of advanced low-carbon technologies in ADB-financed and administered sovereign and nonsovereign projects.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.

Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh is paying a state visit to China just two days after the Zuunbayan-Khangi Railway, the third railway to connect Mongolia with China, started operations on November 25.

Apart from boosting connectivity, the two neighbors joined hands to fight the COVID-19 pandemic by gifting one another with sheep and tea as well as deepened cooperation and exchanges in various fields.

The two countries have set a good example for state-to-state relations, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted on Monday during his meeting with President Khurelsukh.

In the face of the rising instability and uncertainty in the international environment, China is willing to work with the Mongolian side to build a community with a shared future and promote the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership so as to better benefit the people of both countries, Xi vowed.

China, Mongolia inject impetus into ties through three engines

Three engines

President Xi urged the two sides to deepen the three alignments between the Belt and Road Initiative and Mongolia's Prairie Road development strategy, the Global Development Initiative and Mongolia's New Revival Policy, and China's "two-stage" strategic plan and Mongolia's long-term development policy, so as to create three engines for further development of bilateral relations.

In 2013, Xi proposed the Belt and Road Initiative to improve regional connectivity and economic integration. The Prairie Road development strategy, an economic plan introduced by Mongolia, aims to boost trade with neighboring markets.

Mongolia's New Revival Policy covers comprehensive reforms in the areas of port, energy, industry and green development, among others. While Xi on Monday voiced China's willingness to deepen bilateral cooperation in areas such as economics and trade, energy and mining, connectivity, information technology and deep processing of livestock products.

Xi said China supports Mongolia's "Planting One Billion Trees" plan and is willing to explore the possibility with the Mongolian side of setting up a Sino-Mongolian cooperation center for desertification control.

The Chinese president also called for promoting the construction of the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor and the project of laying the China-Russia gas pipeline traversing Mongolia.

The first China-Europe freight train from Jinzhou Port in northeast China's Liaoning Province to Helsinki, Finland, via Choibalsan City in Mongolia, was launched in August this year, which is in line with the construction of the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor.

China, Mongolia inject impetus into ties through three engines

Exceeding $10 billion

As China is pursuing national rejuvenation by following the Chinese path to modernization, Xi told Khurelsukh that China will not only achieve own prosperity and development but will also deliver more development dividends to its neighbors and the world.

China has been Mongolia's top investment source and trade partner for 18 consecutive years. Last year, the trade volume exceed $10 billion for the first time.

Total trade between China and Mongolia accounts for more than 60 percent of Mongolia's foreign trade volume, according to data from the Inner Mongolia Academy of Social Sciences.

Customs data also showed that bilateral trade hit $9.68 billion in the first 10 months of this year.

Join efforts for world peace, development

The two leaders agreed on Monday to make joint efforts for world peace and development.

The Chinese president urged the two sides to team up to foster a new type of international relations and contribute to the building of a community with shared future for mankind.

China and Mongolia are both developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region and have extensive common interests in international and regional affairs, Xi pointed out, adding China is willing to coordinate closely with the Mongolian side to jointly defend genuine multilateralism, resist bloc rivalry and maintain international solidarity and cooperation.

Stressing that the current international and regional situation is undergoing a profound and complex evolution, Khurelsukh believes the two sides should promote Asian values and work together to maintain peace, stability and development in Asia.

The Mongolian side highly values China's positive contribution to the maintenance of world peace, stability and development as well as the international system with the United Nations at its core, and is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with China in international affairs and contribute to the maintenance of regional peace and development.

He added Mongolia backs the China-proposed Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative.

The Government of Mongolia announced 2023 and 2024 as “The Years to Visit Mongolia". In this regard, the Law on Tourism that was approved in 2000 was revised to improve the legal framework of the tourism industry. The Prime Minister of Mongolia, L. Oyun-Erdene, presented the bill to Chairman of the State Great Khural G. Zandanshatar and requested to discuss it in the urgent procedure.

In the framework of this bill:

100 percent of VAT on goods and products purchased by tourists will be refunded

The number of countries eligible to apply for “E-Visa” will be doubled, and visas will be issued online within 48 hours.

Liberalization of air transport will be carried out, restrictions will not be imposed for flights to Mongolia for three years, receiving aircraft from all other countries.

Rio Tinto (NYSE, ASX: RIO) has reached a restitution agreement with an Aboriginal group whose rock shelters in Western Australia it destroyed two years ago for an iron ore mine, the groups said on Monday.

The destruction of the Juukan Gorge sites that showed evidence of human habitation stretching back into the last Ice Age 46,000 years ago caused deep distress to the traditional owners, the Puutu Kunti, Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) peoples.

It also fueled a global uproar, cost three senior leaders and two board members their jobs, a parliamentary inquiry, and an overhaul of the mining industry’s agreements with Indigenous Australians.

Financial terms were not disclosed by either party at the request of the PKKP, the parties said.

“Nothing can compensate for or replace the loss suffered at Juukan Gorge, so this is an outcome orientated legacy to ensure something positive will come from it for years to come,” PKKP Aboriginal Corp Chairperson Burchell Hayes said.

The Juukan Gorge Legacy Foundation will focus on education and training opportunities, financial independence through business development, preservation and an increased voice over heritage, culture and land, the PKKP said in a statement.

The two groups are in advanced talks about a co-management of mining agreement, the PKKP added.

“We fell far short of our values as a company and breached the trust placed in us by the PKKP people by allowing the destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters,” Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm said.

“As we work hard to rebuild our relationship, I would like to thank the PKKP people, their elders, and the Corporation for their guidance and leadership in forming this important agreement,” he said in a separate statement.

As well as the legacy foundation, remedy discussions have centred on ongoing rehabilitation of the rock shelters and their surrounds at Juukan Gorge, Rio said.

Australia said last week that it would strengthen laws to better protect Aboriginal cultural heritage following the enquiry, although it did not offer a time frame for completion.

(By Melanie Burton; Editing by Stephen Coates)